Q: Greg how do they keep all those great cars and trucks from the 1940s and 1950s looking and running so good in Cuba?

Also, on a second note, I’m wondering how I can find information on my old Anthony Dump Truck box? I think it is an original from a 1931 Ford Truck.

Thanks and I hope one day you write a book on your columns. Is there any chance you will ever put them in a book for sale because there’s really lots of good information that is being lost. — John H. Larson, Metaline Falls, Washington.

A: John thanks much for your comments about a book. Believe it or not, I’m currently getting some work together that will appear in a book that will probably be available sometime in late 2018, before Christmas, God willing. So stay tuned as I’ve had several requests like this and I appreciate your vote of confidence.

To get to your questions, I agree those Cuban vehicles are indeed amazing. I’ll point you quickly to an excellent show available free on YouTube called “Stuck in Time — Autoline 1530.” This 26-minute production will answer your questions as to how the ingenious Cubans keep these classics running. You find some parts just aren’t available anymore or too expensive to have shipped in, so they use mechanical ingenuity to keep them running.

There are also many TV programs available, one of them Discovery Channel’s “Cuban Chrome,” which you can watch right now on your smart TV or computer. “Cuban Chrome” is a series that covers everything one wants to know about Cuba’s love of the classic cars and trucks. Many books and DVD’s on the Cuban vehicles subject are also available, so dive in and enjoy many hours of learning about Cuba’s most prized vehicle possessions.

As for that 1931 Anthony Dump Box that came on the 1931 Ford dump trucks, I found that the Anthony Company was founded in 1917 by William C. Anthony from Peoria, Illinois, primarily for the purpose of building truck bodies, dumps and hoists for trucks.

As the years went on, the company specialized in the expanding farm equipment business and truck lift gates. The company to this day still exists and is still located in its original city of Streator, Illinois. See www.anthonyliftgates.com and then click under history for complete information. Their lift hoists for trucks, grain trailers, wagons and boxes are still regarded as some of the best in the business.

Thanks again for your letter.

‘Choo-Choo’ truck fan seeks aftermarket partsQ: Hi Greg and I see your articles on the internet and in area newspapers here in Pennsylvania. I have a 1993 Chevy Stepside “Choo-Choo Customs” that I have owned for the last 8 years. It has 79,000 miles on it and had 65,550 when I bought it. I’ve won several car and truck show trophies since 2009 and live about 70 miles from Pittsburgh.

I wrote to the state of Tennessee (business bureau) where the conversion was done only to be told that the company went out of business.

I am wondering that if I need fender flares or other parts that the company offered where I could locate these things? Luckily, some of the parts can be ordered from my area General Motors dealership while other things I just cannot find.

Any help you can give me I will be grateful for and thank you for reading my letter. — George D. Robinson, Carroltown, Pennsylvania

A: George, I’ve got some good news for you when it comes to the parts you seek for your really good looking 1993 Chevy Silverado “Choo-Choo Customs” Silverado. Because of the popularity pickup trucks have experienced, especially since the 1990s, there are literally hundreds of aftermarket companies out there that offer special parts to make your pickup truck look better. Most of these companies display their wares at the annual SEMA Show in Las Vegas, so if you ever get a chance to attend, it will be an eye opening experience. If you can’t make the trip, catalogs from Jeg’s and Summit, both multi-million dollar aftermarket companies always have pickup truck accessories and many catalogs devoted solely to the truck market.

Although you may not get an identical fender flare that the former Choo-Choo Customs Company offered, I’ll bet that not only will you find similar fender flares when needed, along with other custom kits, they’ll probably be of the same or better quality that was available back when your Chevy Silverado received the special Choo-Choo Customs treatment. As an example, several companies offer four-piece riveted fender flare kit for your Silverado for $131.99 to $199.99. Jegs and Summit both offer riveted and non-riveted flares, rocker panels and much more. If you do not have access to a computer, go to a friends and check out all of the companies that offer exactly what you seek and also free catalogs.

— Greg Zyla writes weekly for More Content Now and other GateHouse Media publications. He welcomes reader questions at greg@gregzyla.com.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.